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Nature and Supranature
October 21, 2026
6:30 PM EDT
Professional Development
Short Description
Ahead of her time, Dr. Montessori knew the positive impact of nature on the human spirit, a conviction that has since been broadly supported and reinforced by countless scientific studies. Yet to enshrine nature was not her goal, nor to set it apart from our humanity or to stand back in awe. Instead, she argues that humans are meant to engage mightily with the natural world and transform it so that they are better able to adapt for survival, wellness, and comfort. Those transformations of the natural world, which she called supranature, have moral implications that resonate with adolescents, whose work on the land and in commerce put them at a meaningful crossroads. This webinar will explore the crossroads where nature meets human activity and the subsequent impact on adolescent development.
Professional Development
Objectives
By the end of this session, participants will:
- Gain insight into the critical interface between nature and supranature
- Gain an understanding of supranature’s role in adolescent valorization
- Learn practical strategies to put adolescents at the intersection of nature and supranature for moral, economic, and social independence
About Our Speaker
Caren Ross has established and led three farm-based Montessori adolescent programs in Connecticut over the past two decades and has spent the last 11 years as the lead guide and farm manager of the adolescent community at the Montessori School of Greater Hartford. She trained in Ohio, Mexico, and Hartford, and co-authored an article on the pyschodisciplines, which included a follow-up workshop on the adolescent-run farm.
Caren has a BA in psychology and Spanish from Tufts University and an MA in international affairs from Columbia University. Caren worked many years as a journalist, writing news stories from the United Nations and editing news from Spanish-speaking countries. Her long-time involvement with land preservation efforts further prepared her for Erdkinder work.
Conference Structure (4 Days Total)
2.5 Days — Introduction to the Alexandrian Great Work
Sowing the Seeds of Advanced Classical Studies at the Second Plane (Ages 6–12)
A full demonstration framework exploring:
- Alexandrian Latin
- Grammar and Language
- History and Civilization
- Creative Dramatics
- Foundations for later adolescent and adult study
Presented by:
- Kathleen Allen
- Gerard Leonard
- David Kahn
1.5 Days — Keepers of Alexandria: 2026
Designing Advanced Montessori Classical Studies
A visionary exploration of Montessori education across:
- 15–18 (Third Plane Adolescent)
- 18–21 and 21–24 (Fourth Plane Young Adulthood)
Participants will engage in a hypothetical design context for an expanding global humanities curriculum with purpose, rooted in classical studies, moral development, and service to humanity.
Presented by:
- David Kahn
- Baiba Krumins Grazzini